Fans get first look at renovated Trask Coliseum

Friday

Oct 14, 2011 at 10:48 PM

Soar Once More. Those words signaled a rebirth at UNC-Wilmington on Friday night.

By Brian MullBrian.Mull@StarNewsOnline.com

Soar Once More.Those words signaled a rebirth at UNC-Wilmington on Friday night. Students and fans craned their necks to read the slogan on the new high-definition video board in Trask Coliseum, where the men's and women's basketball programs kicked off the 2011-12 season with Midnite Madness festivities.Several thousand spectators poured in, filling the lower level and spilling into the top, eager to take their first look at the video board and the entire $2 million facelift in the 34-year-old arena.They found a court sporting a clean look, no paint in the lanes and a straightforward UNCW logo at center court. They sat in chairback seats downstairs on the south side, and admired the permanent scoreboards on the east and west ends, all part of renovations that wrapped up earlier this week.Many gazed at the monstrous video board, as the pep band played or recorded music blasted through the 24 speakers scattered throughout the Trask rafters."Everybody is really excited about our facilities," freshman Grayson Spittel said. "We're excited to watch the kids we go to school with go out there and give it their best."A 3-point shooting contest and slam dunk competition would come later in the evening, after dances and skits.But first, Trevor Deloach and Keith Rendleman of the men's team whipped several hundred students into a teal frenzy on the lawn in front of Hoggard Hall.They tossed T-shirts and mini-basketballs to their raucous classmates, many of whom were decked out in midseason regalia, faces – and bodies – painted. "This is my first time being around a big sports environment," freshman Hannah Gilles said. "I've never really been into basketball before, but I'm looking forward to it."Fans hope an eight-man freshman class can help make the men's program a CAA contender again, and erase the taste of three consecutive losing seasons. Tony Collins, a junior from Mount Airy, isn't familiar with the men's basketball program's history. He's looking forward to supporting the Seahawks regardless."If the school is willing to put forth that much money to improve the facilities, that means they care about the team," Collins said. "So we should support the team."Inflatable basketball games were stationed around the Hoggard Hall lawn, activities for students to enjoy after the basketball fun in Trask ended around 11 p.m. Alumni from the men's basketball team were in attendance and recognized, including Chad Tomko, a senior on last season's 13-18 team who finished his career third on the all-time scoring list.The UNCW men have an exhibition game Oct. 29, before playing host to Marshall in the regular-season opener Nov. 22. The UNCW women, who advanced to the second round of the NIT last season, open the home regular season Nov. 20 vs. East Carolina. The men and women play an exhibition doubleheader Nov. 6.